Planting Progress at the Jordan Park Community Garden

Jordan Park resident Moneshea Harris has taken a leading role in the gardening effort. She welcomed the group to the garden for the July 6th event, acknowledging how the families and partners are working together to make the garden a success.

Moneshea said, "The past few months have been an amazing experience growing in the garden with the residents and community partners of Jordan Park. We are growing in unity, learning life lessons, and educating our youth in ways that are very healing to our community. I enjoy partnering with my neighbors to restore the Jordan Park Garden and I'm excited to welcome the new residents to join the Jordan Park Garden Club as the redevelopment reaches its final stages. I'm really looking forward to the new senior village 'The Legacy' opening. I hope that there will be seniors that will join the garden club just as my grandmother did when she resided in Jordan Park. This type of community partnership leads to lifelong friendships and builds legacies just like my grandmother did with my daughters and myself which makes the name 'The Legacy' is very fitting. It is a pleasure to see my community and the Jordan Park community as a whole restored with healing, healthy eating, and developing meaningful relationships that create a safe living environment. I would like to thank God for the opportunity to stand as a Resident Leader to help grow and restore this community in memory of my grandmother. Remember to 'Plant kindness and Harvest Love' you will be amazed at what grows!"

The Jordan Park families in attendance enjoyed a pizza dinner, donated by Domino's, and then learned proper techniques for weeding and caring for the garden. The children also learned which plants were safe to eat, and they especially enjoyed picking and eating fresh mulberries! One young boy even ventured to pick and taste a red pepper for the first time, and his verdict was clear - he loved it!

In addition, Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center brought fun educational activities to the July 6th event, providing the kids with the opportunity to explore the wonders of science through hands-on experiences and microscope usage.

If you are interested in volunteering in the Jordan Park Community Garden, please contact socialservices@stpeteha.org, and you will be provided a volunteer application. All volunteers must pass a level II background screening with Pinellas County Schools.